Campus Free Expression

Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) values freedom of thought, speech, expression, and assembly. As an Institution of Higher Learning, the College supports the rights of individuals, faculty, staff, and student organizations to demonstrate, provided such activities do not disrupt normal activities or infringe on the rights or others. Please read LDCC’s Campus Free Expression Policy below.

Campus Free Expression

Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) deems the free and open inquiry into all matters fundamental to the mission of higher education and is committed to the preservation of the lawful, free expression of ideas at all of its campuses, subject only to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions.

All campuses of Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) shall allow and protect non-commercial expressive activities by students, administrators, faculty members, staff members, and invited guests in accordance with all applicable laws and this policy.

In accordance with Act 666 of the 2018 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, codified at R.S. 17:3399.31 through 3399.37 (“Louisiana Campus Free Expression Law”), LCTCS hereby adopts this policy on Campus Free Expression (“Policy”). This Policy applies to all campuses under the management of Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC). For the purposes of this Policy, the definition of key terms and other mandatory provisions shall remain consistent with those in Act 666 of 2018, codified at R.S. 17:3399:31 through 3399.37. Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) will amend this policy to reflect any subsequent changes to these statutes. In cases of any inconsistency, the statutory provisions shall supersede any such inconsistent provision in this policy.

In accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:3399.31 through 3399.37, relative to free expression on college campuses, Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) will uphold the following provisions:

1. Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) will strive to ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression, allowing for all forms of expression which are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and Article I, Section 7, of the Constitution of Louisiana.

2. It is not the proper role of Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) to shield individuals from speech protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and other applicable laws, including, without limitation, ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.

3. Students and faculty have the freedom to discuss any topic that presents itself, as provided under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution of Louisiana and other applicable laws within the limits on time, place, and manner of expression.

4. Limitations on time, place, and manner on expressive activities may be enacted if the activities: obstruct building entrances, walkways, and rights-of-way; obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic on or adjacent to campuses; or interfere with classes, meetings, events or ceremonies or with other essential processes of the College. Alternative means of expression will be offered in the event of a restriction on expressive speech, including access to another campus location, which will not be disruptive, or allowing the activity to occur at a different time, again to minimize disruption to critical College processes.

5. Students and faculty may assemble and engage in spontaneous and contemporaneous expressive activity as long as such activity is not unlawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of the institution.

6. Any person lawfully present on a campus may protest or demonstrate there.

7. Protests and demonstrations that infringe upon the constitutional rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity by creating a substantial and material disruption to the functioning of the institution or to someone's expressive activity shall not be permitted.

8. The public areas of all campuses of Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) are traditional public forums that are open on the same terms to any speaker. Public spaces include the College's public streets, sidewalks, parks, and similar common external areas outside of the College’s buildings. Non-public forums will be restricted to use for their intended purpose and are typically not available for public expressive activity. Examples include, but are not limited to, classrooms, faculty and staff offices, academic buildings, administration buildings, libraries, and research and computer labs.

9. The policy supersedes and nullifies any provision in the policies and regulations of Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) that restricts speech on campus and that any such provision is therefore inconsistent with this policy on free expression.

Publication and Dissemination

Louisiana Delta Community College’s policy on campus free expression will be made public in the institution’s handbook, on its website, and through student orientation programs. They will be incorporated in the materials, programs, and procedures provided to all employees and students.

Under 4.01:04 of the LDCC Code of Student Conduct, students will have the right to a formal appeals procedure by which reconsideration of an action by the College through one of its employees, which adversely affects a student may be requested.

All complaints regarding freedom of expression should be forwarded to the Monroe campus to the Dean of Student Success Services, who will investigate the matter and determine if the case should be forwarded to the Disciplinary Hearing Panel. If the case is heard by the Disciplinary Hearing Panel and the student is not satisfied with the decision, the student is allowed to appeal the decision. The student’s appeal should be communicated in writing to the Executive Director of Enrollment Management Services.

Compliance

Failure to comply with any applicable laws and regulations, including those listed above, shall constitute a failure to comply with this policy. Louisiana Delta Community College shall make all due diligence efforts to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including those listed above.